Clergy, Officials, Residents Come Together at Eleventh Anniversary of 9/11

It was the same crisp blue sky on Tuesday night, as Hobokenites gathered to remember those who were lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. 

The backdrop, however, was quite different. 

With a perfect view of the new freedom tower and the sun setting on the downtown Manhattan skyline, it was easy to envision the view on that fateful day on September 11, 2001.  

Some remembered the shock of the people coming into Hoboken, while others remembered the strong smell of the thick black smoke filling the air. 

This eleventh year, though, said Reverend Marvin Krieger from the Community Church of Hoboken, "it is time for a change."

"As a community, we're about to take a step beyond," Krieger said. 

Local officials were present at the memorial, including council members Beth Mason, Jennifer Giattino, Peter Cunningham, Terry Castellano and Ravi Bhalla. Assemblymen Ruben Ramos Jr. and Sean Connors were also present. 

Mayor Dawn Zimmer acknowledged the 9/11 Memorial Committee, adding that the city is "on the cusp of having a permanent memorial." 

The city has gone out to bid for the construction and the memorail committee has agreed on the place on Pier A Park—in the middle of the park by the alcove of trees—where the memorial will be placed. Initially the memorial was planned to be completed in time for last year's ten-year anniversary of the attacks. 

Hoboken needs "a place to bring our children, who need to know what happened that day," Zimmer said. 

While Zimmer remembered the horror of that day, she also mentioned the acts of kindness she saw. 

"That day we saw strangers helping strangers," she said. "The sense of community that lives on is what gives me hope for the future of our country."

Clergy members from Hoboken's religious institutions all read prayers and spoke about the day. 

As darkness fell and the freedom tower's lights turned on red, white, blue, several clergy members read the names of those Hobokenites who were killed on 9/11.  

The overarching theme was the importance of helping others, small acts of love and kindness. In the words of Zimmer, stranges helping strangers. 

"It all boils down to one more little mitzvah," said Rabbi Moshe Shapiro, "to make this world a better place." 

Remembering those who were lost: Joao Alberto da Fonseca Aguiar Jr., Jean Ann Andrucki, Peter Paul Apollo, Donna Bernaerts-Kearns, Martin "Mary" Boryczewski, Nicholas William Brandemarti, Swarna Chalasani, Christopher Michael Colasanti, Michael Shamus Costello, Anne Marie Cramer, Christopher S. Cramer, Gavin Cushny, Michael DeRienzo, Douglas Frank DiStefano, Neil M. Dollard, Margaret Echtermann, Meredith Emily June Ewart, Peter Feidelberg, John Roger Fisher, Jeffrey Briand Gardner, Brian Goldberg, Michael Edward Gould, Pedro Grehan, Kevin James Hannaford, Scott Jordan Hazelcorn, Robert Wayne Hobson III, Matthew D. Horning, Joseph Anthony Ianelli, Thomas Patrick Knox, Gregory James Malone, George Patrick McLaughlin Jr., Michael J. Mullin, Marc Murolo, John J. Murray, Martin Stewart Niederer, Katherine McGarry Noack, Brian Christopher Novotny, Keith Kevin O'Connor, Dominique Lisa Pandolfo, Jon Anthony Perconti Jr., Joseph O. Pick, Raymond J. Rocha, Scott William Rohner, Joshua M. Rosenblum, Nicholas Charles Alexander Rowe, Ronald J. Ruben, Richard L. Salinardi Jr., James K. Samuel Jr., John Shroeder, Alexander Robbins Steinman, Lesley Anne Thomas, Melissa Renee Vincent, Meredith L. Whalen, James Patrick White, Debbie L. Williams, Michael Robert Wittenstein.